Drummer reacts to "Hey Jude" by The Beatles

[@bookcraver1]

At seven minutes long, The Beatles were told that Hey Jude would never be allowed to play on the radio and John said "Sure it will." When asked why he would say that, he answered "Because we're The Beatles."

[@thebigwool]

“Because it’s us”

[@davidpahlka6301]

I just turned 76 and I lived through the greatest music era in history. All the bands were competitive in a way but a good way. In 1968 the radio played this song constantly and at the time I was dating a Mormon girl with seven siblings, all younger and non stop they'd be singing 'Hey Jude'. I was going through recovering from drug use and this song helped, "take a sad song and make it better". Another song which helped war Ringo's song, (written by Hoyt Axton), the "No, no song. A friend of mine was 23, while I was 18 who said she attended a Beetle's concert and tried to keep her composure and before she knew it, she was screaming like the 15, 16 and 17 year olds were. It completely shocked her. Just think of it, in the late 60's and 70's we had the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Simon and Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, the Band, Steppenwolf, the Grateful Dead, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, the Temptations, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Carly Simon, Carol King, Three Dog Night, Canned Heat, the Loving Spoonful, the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, and so many more! With the best bands, we could not wait for their next record album, each was so different than before,

[@georgeperkins4171]

How lucky we are to live in a universe that created the beatles.

[@SpaceCattttt]

They may have been created somewhere else...

[@mrsnookdeb]

The second greatest story ever told

[@kenennis6287]

Looking back at 70 I think that I was in the right age range to experience them from Ed Sullivan and it looks into infinity. Beatles 4ever

[@briandonovan1584]

@@mrsnookdeb No. It is the greatest story ever told. Also has the benefit of being quite literally true without question.

[@DawnSuttonfabfour]

Ringo finally had enough of the arguing and said he was leaving. He went home and told his wife "I'm not a Beatle anymore". The guys persuaded him to come back to the studio and when he got there his drum kit was covered in flowers. No matter how the other 3 fell in/out with each other, no-one fell out with Ringo, he was their heart.

[@spooley]

Yep, in Get Back you can see Ringo was always the one bringing the mood back up, being a good human in general. Peace and love wasn't an act with him.

[@L33Reacts]

Damn that is the nicest thing. It’s not easy being a celebrity or famous musician. Now imagine your one the Beatles. fame like no one has ever dreamed of. It must have been a lot of pressure And they still kept their wits about them and their heads down and worked. The best band ever!

[@DawnSuttonfabfour]

@@L33Reacts I don't know how any of them came out sane at the other end. John did crack up for a while but really they were all sound, lovely people.

[@fineasfogg1461]

I heard Ringo in an interview saying that he thought it was him (the Prob) to the Beatles, and they all thought it was themselves that was causing the trouble that Ringo was unhappy about. Absolutely Ringo was the soul of the Beatles.

[@meyerhave]

@@L33Reacts L33Reacts: In case you weren't aware, this promotional clip of "HEY JUDE" was not PERFORMED on David Frost's TV show; rather, it was premiered and SHOWN on his program September 8, 1968. On September 4, Frost went out to TWICKENHAM FILM STUDIOS and was filmed introducing them in order "to fake the illusion that the Beatles were appearing exclusively on his TV program" - LIVE - from the LONDON WEEKEND TELEVISION studios where Frost actually did tape his TV series "Frost On Sunday". (By the way, the only "LIVE" music instruments that are both seen and HEARD being played in this entire clip, is at the very beginning before Frost makes his introduction. With Paul's piano, John's Epiphone "Casino" electric guitar, - with him suddenly breaking into bombastic, nonsensical "skat singing" - George on the six string Fender Bass VI bass guitar, and Ringo on drums, they briefly do their own tongue-in-cheek send up of "By George! - It's The David Frost Theme" which was written by George Martin: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmnSpJerZ9OInq8 ) The orchestra (which also does NOT play "LIVE" in this clip) was visible on-set in order to fool the U.K. Musician's Union into believing that no miming had been perpetrated." Other than one of Paul's two lead vocals - as heard and seen in this clip as obviously being a"LIVE" vocal (and with this also being the same "LIVE" vocal heard throughout the entirety of the long "na.na.na.na." refrain and fadeout") ALL of the other vocals (Paul's lead vocal - recorded August 1, 1968 -, John, Paul & George backing vocals), guitars, bass guitar - played by Paul and recorded August 1 -, drums, tambourine and the 36 piece orchestra are from the studio recording released as a 45 single record on August 26, 1968 in the U.S. and August 30, 1968 in the U.K. As an example, in this promo clip, John is seen playing his Epiphone "Casino" electric guitar, while at the same time his acoustic guitar from their actual studio recording / 45 single release is what can be heard. The same goes for Ringo's drums, Paul's piano, etc., etc. ALL of the musical instruments heard and seen being played in this promotional clip are NOT "live", but in fact are from the completed studio recording master tape / official 45 single release.

[@rachelbrachman1510]

Only the Beatles could get people to sing na-na-na for 4 minutes.

[@christhomas507]

Umm... Journey

[@DarqJestor]

Was it the Beatles or just the drugs? It's sweet that Paul wrote the song but I think it's mediocre at best. The Beatles made a huge volume of great music but some of their stuff really wasn't that good. If some other band had made it I doubt it would have been played.

[@mr.knowitall6440]

It's actually na-na-na-na... 🧐

[@RockChick63174]

​@@DarqJestorthat's YOUR opinion.

[@DarqJestor]

@@RockChick63174 Really? If you hadn't told me it was my opinion I never would have known. 🙄🙄🙄

[@rexdiamond]

Most 45's "B" sides were throw away junk, The Beatles were the king of the double "A" side 45's.

[@Scarlet3241]

Paul and John definitely reconciled before John’s death. The last thing that John said to Paul was “think of me now and then my old friend.” 🕊❤️🎼

[@nonrepublicrat]

whatever

[@L33Reacts]

Thank you for the info I was hoping that was the case

[@spooley]

There was at least one occasion Yoko didn't allow Paul and Linda up, two ex-employees have talked of it and how Paul left phone messages that weren't passed on to John. Oh well, such is life.

[@HenryInHawaii]

Paul was at the Dekota visiting John. They were watching Saturday night live. SNL said they would pay $10 to have the Beatles reform and play on SNL. John and Paul thought it might be fun to take them up on their offer, but alas it didn't happen

[@Y-two-K]

@@HenryInHawaii$1000 not $10, which is still a hilarious low-ball offer

[@P.Galore]

EMI told The Beatles they needed to edit " Hey Jude " down to under 4 minutes or radio wouldn't play it. The band refused issuing the full 7 minute plus version. John Lennon told EMI " They'll play it because it's US!"

[@fayesouthall6604]

And it got to No1 in the U.K. on the day I was born.

[@Edawgg1983]

You're right. The Beatles were like a family. Ringo once said, "I'm an only child with 3 brothers." They were and always will be the greatest ever.

[@Moz1011]

These people in that audience would never forget being invited to join in with that.

[@L33Reacts]

Never, ever. Part of history!

[@papercup2517]

@@L33Reacts If you dig around a bit you can find some of their stories. Invitations went to fan club members, the 'Apple Scruffs' who hung around the Apple offices hoping to see their idols, and were also randomly handed out to people in the street, on a bus, and in the local area around the Twickenham Studios where the performance was to be recorded. It was all very mysterious. They had to get on a bus somewhere at a certain time, not knowing where they were going, or what for, exactly... and enter a large, anonymous building through a pitch black hallway... through a door, and suddenly there they were, in a room with the Beatles! The filming went on all day IIRC, which is why they were all so relaxed and comfortable hanging out with the Beatles and each other by the end of it. The final film was an edit of three run throughs, I think. It's worth checking out their stories. You can pick the people out in the video. Another little thing I think you'd really enjoy and get a lot out of is the Carpool Karaoke session with Paul, done a few years ago. They go back to Liverpool and revisit old haunts, places featured in songs like Penny Lane and A Day in the Life, including Paul's old family home, where he tells stories about writing songs with John. The day ends with a surprise performance at a local pub, with Paul and his band letting the patrons pick the songs from a juke box. It would be fun to see the kids reacting to Yellow Submarine, if you want to do that! Was it just the song, or the whole movie, I wonder? - I wasn't very clear. I should think if they like the song and animations, they'd adore the movie....

[@1967PONTIACGTO]

Just when you think the Beatles won't be able to amaze you again, you watch them perform Hey Jude!

[@davidwestphal3469]

Like I’ve said before: There were the Beatles and there was everyone else.

[@mike-jm9rs]

Just the human race, singing and clapping, what the hell happened to our world folks? So glad we have their music and videos in our lives.

[@johndavids4780]

Interesting note. Paul presented the song to John and when he played the line "the movement you need is on your shoulder" he told John he was still working on it and he would fix that line. John said he thought it was the best line in the song. Paul says he tends to tear up when he sings it as it makes him think of John.

[@HiddenSymmetry]

that is my favorite line too even before I knew the backstory..I thought is was a clever way of saying 'dealing with the weight on your shoulders'

[@papercup2517]

@@HiddenSymmetry I always took it to mean something along the lines of the saying 'more power to your elbow' (??) - ie you have the power within you - in your arm, on your shoulder, to reach out and do what needs to be done, lift that weight, clear those obstacles, or whatever... but your idea works too!

[@fineasfogg1461]

@@HiddenSymmetryBoy, you gonna carry that weight, carry that weight for a long time….

[@realbser1956]

The song was written by Paul to give comfort to John’s son Julian, after John and his first wife and Julian’s mother Cynthia, were divorced. That last Na Na part is evokes such positivity and Paul’s vocals are spectacular. Thanks Clay for the suggestion.

[@nonrepublicrat]

You THINK you are telling us something new ????

[@DarqJestor]

@@nonrepublicratSome people may not have known, and everyone is entitled to express their opinion on the vocals, although I personally disagree about them.

[@RockChick63174]

You're rude. ​@@nonrepublicrat

[@Y-two-K]

The Hey Jude part was written about Julian, but I think the other lyrics apply more to John.

[@LisaThomas-xz3ki]

And it was originally titled Hey Jules

[@tomedmonson501]

John and Paul definitely reconciled in the mid 70s. In 76 or 77, someone tried to get the Beatles to re-form for a big benefit concert ($100 million was the estimate for how much they could raise). SNL did a parody of that , and offered the Beatles $1000 each if they would come play on live TV. Paul was actually hanging out at John’s place in New York that night, and they considered for a moment grabbing their guitars and heading down to the TV studio. It’s too bad they decided against it.

[@mikeeckel2807]

Supposedly they were all set to go and then Yoko walked in...and John forgot all about Igoing.

[@jimmymcintyre7944]

The United Nation's offered the Beatles 1 million dollars to do one concert for world peace. They said no. Then Saturday Night Live offered them a few thousand dollars to appear on their show. George had just released an album and appeared on the show. They had a funny skit with George trying to get all the money for appearing. Think the year was 1975, but not positive. Those years are kinda fuzzy.

[@beatleschick1000]

Yes, I didn’t see the show with George but I saw a clip on it on the 15th anniversary of SNL. George is talking to Loren Michael’s and saying “well. It seems pretty chintzy to me” when Michael’s was telling him he was just one Beatle and only could have 1/4 of the check, L O L Georges had a wonderful sense of humor!!

[@thomastimlin1724]

George Harrison was mjusical guest on SNL that night with Paul Simon as the host.

[@robertspitz9832]

No band like them, never will be.

[@SpaceCattttt]

That's true. I mean, even if a new Beatles came along; an equally talented band who wrote an equal number of fantastic songs, there just isn't the audience for them anymore. Even if the Beatles showed up today and released these songs for the first time, nobody would care. They were at the right place at the right time. Today isn't the right time for anything. Music is dead.

[@daverowntree5737]

Paul first played this in public in a little country pub when he got lost. The pub had a piano so he led a sing along of various songs and premiered Hey Jude. Imagine being in that boozer.

[@Retnoob]

The world needs more drummers stylish enough to play in that suit.

[@lsteber9774]

The Beatles' songwriting is arguably untouchable. Following their evolution through the years, the evolution of their music is amazing.

[@CharlyDS]

You go "Oh here comes Hey Jude again and the nana, ok.." And then little by little you get sucked in, and you are all smiling, and a bit of crying too. A thousand times after the first time, still goosebumps. It's in the DNA, what can you do right?

[@kellydeffet136]

They did reconcile. John and Paul visited at the Dakota Building in New York City several times. Paul has said their last call was all about kids and discussing family lives.

[@craigproctor9560]

The Beatles biggest selling song ever nine weeks at number one in America

[@charlotex1]

And more importantly, my favorite song of all time, all artists, all genres (not classical - Beethoven rules there).

[@SpaceCattttt]

@@charlotex1 Yes, of course. Nothing matters more than what YOU like. Mustn't forget that.

[@fayesouthall6604]

And in the U.K.

[@Brandi6666]

@@SpaceCattttti’ll remind you 🖕🖕🖕 and remember this too 🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕

[@chitownlee]

George was known as the quiet Beatle. His first album is a masterpiece, you'll love it.

[@fayesouthall6604]

All things must Pass ❤

[@chitownlee]

@fayesouthall6604 yep, I bought it when it came out, l was really happy for George!

[@nixonradio]

Isn't It A Pity ❤ maybe the best solo song of any of the Beatles!

[@Kieop]

In private, he had a reputation for being a chatterbox.😊

[@JohnRoss1956]

Walk out your front door and get shot. That was the reality. I'm still shaken to the core......

[@gidion4004]

6 minutes of " na na na na" and you would still go on! They are the BEATLES ...what else?

[@270yis7]

Imagine being in the room singing along as the greatest rock band in history performed one of their most popular hits.

[@realcoolbreeze]

Saw the Beatles ( from afar at Miami Airport ),in 1964. 9 of us squeezed into 1 car in 9th grade.All 15 year olds then The driver was 16 and owned the car. About 15,16 wanted to go. Glad he and I were friends. He picked me to come along to watch history. I believe it was their 2nd stop ( after NY ) in America. Girls were screaming and running everywhere down the corrodoors. What a memory. No band ever to this day were as big or created such a huge impact in America as the Beatles. They were talented , got along, were witty, funny and had charisma that s never been seen since.

[@HiddenSymmetry]

love it when Paul smirks when he doesn't sing ' is on your shoulder' along with the recorded vocal in sync...@5:56

[@Jonni1027]

Way after the Beatles broke up, there’s John in a video interview, referring to Paul as his “best friend”❤

[@RavenFire4]

Wishing sir Paul a very happy 82nd birthday today..

[@leannlaplante3643]

I recommend The Beatles when one is feeling low. They helped me get back to the light.

[@dionysiacosmos]

This song had its own listening protocol when it came on the radio. The volume went up and everyone stopped talking for the first part then sang the fade out at the top of their lungs. 🧓💖🎸

[@rogerfrancoeur299]

After they recorded Hey Jude ,George Martin said that they would have to cut the 7 minute song down as the radios won't play a song that long and John said , if it's the Beatles they will and they did of course .

[@richardwilley3246]

Paul said that in his last phone call with John, they talked about baking bread. He said it was a good conversation, and that they reconnected.

[@gs8191]

John and Paul were best friends and that never changed. He was on the Mike Douglas show and was asked about his relationship with Paul. I think John realized he had gone too far with his lyrics because of all the flak he was getting from it. He said we had a little spat, but it gets so blown up in the media. Paul's my best friend; he is still my best friend. According to May Pang, the woman John was with after he and Yoko broke up for a couple of months in 73 or 74, Paul was the one John turned to try to get him out of his drunken binge depression because of being away from Yoko. One Saturday night in April 1976, Paul was visiting John and Yoko at the Dakotas. John and Paul smoked a joint together and decided to watch SNL for some giggles. It was the night Lorne Michaels offered the Beatles $3,000 to perform on SNL, which got huge laughs since some billionaire had just offered them $50 million for one concert. John and Paul were so high, they actually talked about going to the studio and showing up. But ofc they were high, and they probably dawdled too long. But it would have been great if they had.

[@nonrepublicrat]

Thanks for the history lesson Professor. SpongeBob SquarePants. As if there are any Beatle fans who have not heard all this shit a million times before, with a bit of your own fantasy mixed in, as if you had been there yourself. It is always funny when people think they know stuff that they THINK others don't know, especially when it is of no importance anyway.

[@papercup2517]

@@nonrepublicrat Of course we've all heard the stories a zillion times, but I believe the OP was addressing his remarks to Lee, who is still learning about the Beatles - and, in fact expressed his appreciation in today's video for the sharing of information and stories.

[@stevedahlberg8680]

​@@papercup2517Yep.

[@gs8191]

@@nonrepublicrat Sorry, so many people think they hated each other. And sorry to ruin your day, you pretentious blowhard.

[@fayesouthall6604]

@@nonrepublicrat I hadn’t heard about SNL

[@polittek]

For your (eventual) consideration: "All You Need Is Love." The song was Britain's contribution to Our World, the first live global television link. "There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be. It"s easy." -All You Need Is Love Thanks for sharing your leap of faith into the endless Beatles' rabbit hole.

[@IndianaCharlie812]

Around 9:47 you can see Paul getting pissed at the guy behind him. He keeps bumping him and you can clearly see Paul has had enough

[@36karpatoruski]

This video says the 60’s better than anything else I can think of. Incredible!

[@carundle-ds1op]

Imagine a 7+minute song in 1968 that was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 9 weeks. 9 weeks. The Beatles' best performing song, and possibly altogether best.

[@genegarrett3372]

Watch John make Paul laugh by making a funny face at him.

[@stevedahlberg8680]

Love that moment!

[@Nerkin610]

John missed the cue for his harmony part, which Paul tried to signal to him. They had a silent communication “argument” about it, and Paul smiled when John got it right during the following verse

[@johndavids4780]

Four guys from Liverpool. What is the chance that four people of this depth and talent meeting and creating what they did. One of the top very few greatest gifts of my life. Don't worry about the comments or speculation. If they didn't speculate their music would never have happened. George played a very special 6 string bass/guitar. That instrument is for me the holly grail of memorabilia second only to Ringo's grey white pearl drum kit.

[@stevedahlberg8680]

Fascinating.

[@Dr3amtime]

Ringo's happy smile kinda made my morning.

[@laurencaulton103]

Stop worrying about the Beatles break-up. We only have two Beatles left. Any of this stuff is DECADES in the past. "Hey Jude" is so long, only the Beatles could have gotten it on the radio. The only song Paul did totally alone is "Yesterday." They brought stuff in, and worked on it together. The greatest band ever! Seven minutes long!

[@blanetalk]

Well, 7 minutes long is longer than an average radio song's airplay, but "Stairway To Heaven" is 7:55. And radio DJ's were notorious for having a list of longer songs like Grand Funk Railroad's "I'm Your Captain" (9:58), Peter Frampton's "Do You Feel Like We Do?" (14:16) and Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-De-Vida" (17:05) to throw on when they needed a bathroom break or needed to get out of the booth for other reasons.

[@DavidRold-pt3ng]

I believe Paul is the only one on Why Don't We Do It In The Road also.

[@debjorgo]

@@blanetalk I think lauren is talking about AM radio. In-a-gadda was edited to 2:52 for the radio. The other songs were released in the '70s. By then. FM radio became the popular medium. Its biggest Rock/Pop format was Album Oriented music and yes, they did play longer songs. Stairway was not released as a single. Captain was edited to 5:31 for AM radio.

[@blanetalk]

​@@debjorgo - Thank you. That's a fair point.

[@michaelparks6120]

They were simply magic....I really can't think of a more apt word.

[@harrydoupe9315]

My favourite part is late in the coda where McCartney throws in "Take a load off Annie. Take a load off Annie put it back on me, yeah" starting at 8:50, a snippet of "The Weight" by The Band. Not a bad nod to a band who's debut album had only been out a couple of months.

[@jpmnewyork]

That truly is remarkable -- I hadn't realized the timing. The video, which is the only place McCartney uses that line (it's not on the original studio recording) was filmed on Sept. 4, 1968. The Band's "Music from Big Pink" was released on July 1, with the single of "The Weight" released August 8. While the song was eventually quite influential, it made little initial impact. It shows what an astute appreciation McCartney had for good songs that he became familiar enough with it in that short time to quote the lyrics.

[@tdgallagher218]

If you look carefully near the end of the video, you will notice the old guy hanging all over Paul appears to lose his balance. In the process, he reaches out to catch hold of he ends up repositioning Paul's microphone. It is clear by the expression on his face that he is rather upset because it is beyond his reach. FYI: That 'old guy' was a street busker from the Soho district in London that one of the Beatles (Paul, I think) befriended. His name was Bill Davis, who would frequently hang out with them at their Apple Corp headquarters.

[@larryleyba6496]

When my son was a baby, newborn, he wouldn't sleep. My wife told me to sing him a lullaby, I didn't really know any, but I'd sing Yellow Submarine, and it would usually work. My wife thought I was insane. She still does 17 years later, and she's right.

[@saries54]

We loved the Beatles! They were like our very cool older brothers. They did everything before everybody else. We just followed them.

[@hungfao]

They also did 'Revolution' on the same. Like that song, this was essentially LIVE to a backing track to fill out the sound. Can you believe that some people were actually annoyed by them having EVERYBODY in that show of togetherness at the end?

[@mikenolan7970]

“And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make!”

[@johng.8517]

"The Beatles are the best-selling music act of all time, with estimated sales of 600 million units worldwide. They hold the record for most number-one albums on the UK Albums Chart (15), most number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (20), and most singles sold in the UK (21.9 million). The band received many accolades, including seven Grammy Awards, four Brit Awards, an Academy Award (for Best Original Song Score for the 1970 film Let It Be) and fifteen Ivor Novello Awards." -Wikipedia "Half a century after their breakup, The Beatles were still the biggest rock band of 2020, shifting 1.094 million album-equivalent units through the first six months of the year, 326,000 units ahead of the genre’s second-place finisher, Queen. The Fab Four also had the fifth-bestselling vinyl album of the year, selling 54,000 copies of their 1969 opus Abbey Road. They had good company in the vinyl category, including fellow classic rock icons Queen and Pink Floyd, pop supernova Billie Eilish and retro-rock heartthrob Harry Styles. The Beatles also perform exceptionally well on streaming services, with many songs racking up hundreds of millions of plays." -Forbes

[@ChrisMehl-h2z]

I’ve been on this planet for 68years..never saw this video until now! Have loved this song, and the whole catalog for decade after decade.

[@genegarrett3372]

They hired a half orchestra (at great expense) just to play four chords over and over, The Beatles always got what they want. This record marked the end of psychodelia from the year before.

[@nancy9891]

Happy Father’s Day

[@guitarsup1004]

Thanks for your appreciation of The Greatest of All Time. They were Gods.

[@kweile4339]

Your Beatles reactions are what brought me to your channel and I haven't looked back. I look forward to your reactions every day. You keep the music of my youth alive. Music and reading have been my salvation, an endless source of teachers and emotional release. I'm glad you have this community giving you these treasures. I can feel that you feel them. Keep em coming!

[@Mingus8]

Paul wrote this when he was 27 (!), and soon decided that he was finnished with The Beatles... That gives you some perspective.

[@aBeatleFan4ever]

Paul recorded "Too Many People" in early 1971 - in response to numerous negative comments that John had made about Paul in magazine articles, after the break up of the group. John then attacked Paul in his later 1971 album with the song "How Do You Sleep". Paul put out a song titled "Dear Friend" in his December 1971 album... and the two spoke soon after - and agreed to stop the negative stuff between them. Their relationship was decent from then on. They jammed together in the summer of 1973 - and John was very close to working again with Paul (while John & Yoko were separated). Paul actually helped John get back together with Yoko. And then when they got back together - Yoko didn't want John to work with Paul... and they never did. Paul & Linda would stop by and visit John & Yoko whenever they were in NY. John actually got along much better with Paul than with George in the last 8 years of his life. George had played guitar on John's "Imagine" album which they finished recording shortly before George put on the Concert for Bangladesh. So George expected John to return the favor and perform at his Bangladesh concert (but he did not want Yoko to perform with him). This offended John greatly and he refused to be in the show - without Yoko. The relationship between the two was never really good after that. George barely mentioned John in his auto-biography "I Me Mine"... and that hurt John as well. When John was killed in 1980... George felt bad that they were not on good terms - and he would never have a chance to fix it. In regard to George's song writing... John & Paul were the song writers for the group right from the time they two got together in 1957. George had zero interest in song writing for a long time. He decided to try and write a song for their second album in 1963 ("Don't Bother Me", which I like) but he thought it was bad - and he didn't try again for quite a while. He loved being a Beatle in those early days - and he was quite happy being the lead guitar player and getting to sing a cover song now and then. It was two years later (in 1965) when George finally tried his hand at writing a song again. George, himself, says that his early songs were not very good - and he was lucky that they (John & Paul and George Martin) let him continue to try and contribute as a song writer in those early times. I also believe that Harrison was very lucky to have the John & Paul right there next to him all those years - where he could absorb everything they were doing in regard to song writing - and creating a record. George got 2 songs on each of the group's two albums in 1965. In my view, his two songs from the December 1965 album were noticeably better than his two from the earlier 1965 album. He was getting better. The group put out just one new album in 1966 - and George got THREE songs on it. He went from 14% to 21% of the songs... and he also got the new album opening track with "Taxman". This was a big jump forward for Harrison's song writing. It is my view that George was very happy with the song writing situation in 1966. He could not have expected more than he was getting at this point. This year was also the first of Harrison's eastern "Indian" type songs ("Love You To"). The group had some very bad experiences with their live tours in 1966 - and decided to quit doing live shows. So in 1967 they spent a lot more time in the recording studio - making the Sgt. Pepper album. George had immersed himself into trying to become a good sitar player - and his songs from this period were pretty much all of that eastern style. He got just 1 song on the new LP ("Within You, Without You") and this was probably the first time that he may have begun to feel somewhat under used. It's my view that George had a very difficult task - to try and get songs on in place of the material that John & Paul were creating. It is very understandable that George got just 1 track on the Pepper album. I can't think of a Harrison song from that period which would be deserving of taking the place of any of J&P's The group followed George's intense feelings for eastern philosophy, music and pretty much everything India... and they all went to India in early 1968. Before they left, they put one of George's new Indian style songs ("The Inner Light") on the B side of their new single. This was a new first for George. When they came back from India - they recorded a new double album ("The White Album") and George got 4 songs on it. He had some other songs from this period that might be considered as worthy candidates. But he had FIVE Beatles songs released in 1968 - which was the most he ever had. During the "Get Back" project in January of 1969 - George continued to come up with some good quality material. "I Me Mine" and "For You Blue" would be the two songs that would eventually end up on the "Let It Be" album. he also worked on "Old Brown Shoe" during that time - and it would be released as the B side to "The Balled of John and Yoko" at the end of May, 1969. And he finished his career with The Beatles with two of the best songs on the "Abbey Road" album... ("Something" and "Here Comes the Sun"). These two songs were pretty much universally seen as magnificent tracks. And He finally got an A side release on the new single - just as the group was coming to an end. George had FIVE new songs recorded in 1969 that would be released on Beatles records. For me... his 1969 material was easily his best work as a Beatle. He improved tremendously over the few years he had been working to become a song writer (really just 1965-69). One more note... You should listen to the studio version of "Hey Jude" some time. Paul's vocal that he belts out during the last half of the song - during the "Na na na na na na" section is a highlight of the song for me.

[@Kathmak]

Excellent comments!

[@sophiapangloss2149]

That's the Mount Everest of British cultural moments, so much in those 8 minutes. Those first 2 words though, nothing transports me back to the breakfast table in 1968 like those do, such impact.

[@richtensail]

a highlite in musical history.

[@V7avalon]

you'll never really know just how cool the beatle are having not lived in the 60s 😂 Here comes the son ✝️🌅

[@jumperking368]

Notice at 5:20 John and Paul swap looks with each other when John forgot to sing and then again at 6:06 Paul gives the eyes at John to make sure he doesn’t forget again.

[@genegarrett3372]

I couldn't find but one occasion where Ringo left the band (Aug 22 1968) which was nine days before recording Hey Jude. Of course, sometimes one of the guys would be absent for appointments (business, Dentist, etc) during their recording sessions, but this was the only time Ringo left the band. That is if you exclude a 1964 tour when he had his tonsils removed and Jimmy Nichols became a stand in drummer for tour dates in Holland Denmark and Hong Kong. Ringo rejoined them in Austrailia.

[@blanetalk]

I saw Jude Law on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert this week, and he said when he saw Paul McCartney perform in Australia, Sir Paul dedicated this song to HIM! And he said it's one of the greatest moments of his life!

[@mitchellbatchelor1594]

The recording was live & released as is. #1 hit. How many bands released a live #1 song?

[@nanlewis]

How awesome that would have been to be in that audience and sing with them!

[@genegarrett3372]

They also recorded the "Revolution" demo single (you have shown before.) Both this Hey Jude and the Revolution demos on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour on CBS, In fact the Smother Brothers replayed Revolution a second time a week later and George came on stage to announce it.

[@Upe-f9c]

If you´ve missed it, the Rutles (Monthy Python) Beatles parodies are really well done and fun. Try "Piggie in the Middle" wish is a pastishe of "I am the Walrus".

[@scottyhotty1003]

For Julian Lennon to comfort him after his father John's divorce, written by Paul McCartney❤

[@johnsilva9139]

I just wonder why it's Hey Jude instead of Hey Julien. I never heard an explanation for that.

[@blanetalk]

@@johnsilva9139 - It was originally "Hey Jules", but then Paul thought it was too on the nose.

[@briandonovan1584]

Paul was and is a wonderful human being with a heart of gold. He still signs notes to Julian, "Uncle Paul."

[@briandonovan1584]

@@johnsilva9139 It just worked better as a song but was 100 percent genuine and wonderful.

[@Kieop]

@@blanetalk 1. It doesn't "sing" as well. 2. The song is not about him. It is inspired by a visit to comfort Julian, but that is not what the song is about. Inspiration and meaning are not the same thing.

[@alvillanueva2525]

How could you have not heard this song before?

[@fayesouthall6604]

He probably has but recognised the nanana at the end.

[@TheBobherriot]

I'm a subscriber, but not a paid subscriber. You really need to react to John's (still Beatle) song Across The Universe. Lyrically amazing. Just an awesome but somehow seemingly overlooked song from a "reaction" point of view. Trust me, you won't regret the listen. Or the reaction.

[@mattleppard1970]

100% from a paid subscriber 😊

[@Moz1011]

John and Paul were friends before John passed. All the guys were in touch throughout the years.

[@stevenboettcher4796]

Yes, Across The Universe is an incredible song. My favorite.

[@jeffmartin1026]

I love the opening of the clip and how they go from a casual send-up of the show's theme song to being a solid band in the blink of an eye. And that Lennon guy - playing guitar, singing AND chewing gum all at the same time!! I remember the first time I heard this song. The local radio stations were hyping the premier like mad and that they would play it at 5:50. I was 16 and I had just started my first job. 5:50 came and the song was played, longer and longer. My father was yelling at me to hurry up or I'd be late for work, but I had to listen 'till the end. When I got to work the girls there asked me if I had heard it and peppered me with question after question about it. What a time it was.

[@angielofton6372]

Listen to the studio version, Paul’s ad libs over the coda are legendary. Yes, they all pretty much reconciled. There may have been a little friction between John and George, but the love is always there.

[@johncollier9280]

I've watched this concert clip many times but it's the first time I noticed Paul's vocals were double tracked, which leads me to believe they played 'n sang o'er a pre-recorded backin' track. I wonder what else was pre- recorded. Still, what an amazin' performance! A favorite Beatles video wondrously recorded for our pleasure!

[@dawnschneider187]

Paul's voice has always been my favorite of the four. Awesome reaction!

[@russelldye3751]

I got to see Paul and his band on my 60th birthday in San Francisco with 40 thousand of my closest friends! They did Beatles songs,wings songs, and his solo stuff too!It lasted around 3 hours and everyone sang along young and old!

[@IAMCAVE]

They were icons.

[@garylee3685]

Ringo left once I'm sure. This was recorded during the same White album sessions that Ringo left to stay on Peter Sellers yacht. The song they do a " perfect rendition" of was the theme song of the show they were on. They did this appearance and the video for Revolution because they now owned their own label and were vested in sales more than they were.

[@StevenMichals0812]

My top 3 : Hey Jude, All You Need is Love, Let It Be

[@WendyDarling1974]

What always strikes me about this song is that it starts out comforting one person , with just one voice and 1-2 instruments, and then ends up being an affirmation for everyone, with the most bombastic big sound, big voices, you can get. It builds and builds, like warm up, and then it launches like a rocket.

[@fineasfogg1461]

Paul grew out his beard from this point for a while as we see him in Let-it Be or GetBack sessions. I thought this was very very popular well because we hadn’t seen anything by them for a long time, and as far as performing together

[@joannparker1977]

This performance is fantastic.

[@robinfoster7597]

Great reaction Man, thanks :)

[@angie1243]

I was 10 in 1968. The Beatles WERE my childhood. Listened to this relentlessly (my older brother's 45rpm when he was out!). Now I LOVE the fact that, 56 years later, it's sung at football grounds around the country, including my local - St James' Park. 😊

[@dawntucker5052]

One of their absolutely BEST songs thank you lee❤

[@gaizkasalazarrodriguez5054]

MAGIC BEATLES!!!!

[@mgonzales56]

The Beatles were magical. As I see it, they were a gift from God. There is no other explanation for it. I thank God everyday for his gift. How could four people come up with so many distinct melodies, that were so well written, and so catchy, that they were all hits? It is so amazing, and so difficult to try to explain, it makes you dizzy thinking about it. Lol. I have been a fan since Feb. 9, 1964 when I was 7 years old. I am now almost 68, and still listen to them everyday, and I am still in wonder of them, and still thank God I was born in time to experience all the Beatles' years. Thank you Lee for reacting to them.

[@maxxxmodelz4061]

Thanks for this. Great song, greatest band, and great reaction.

[@joannparker1977]

They all did love one another. No matter what anyone says. Paul was very accepting of Yoko. No matter what anyone says.

[@genebaughbba]

This television show is the best way to hear this song. The song that The Beatles start doing is the theme song for the TV show that they're on You can see that the host of the TV show has got his orchestra back there behind the Beatles The most wonderful thing is to observe the crowds reaction when the Beatles stand up and ask them to stand up and start singing with them.

[@meyerhave]

@genebaughbba3479: That is NOT David Frost's "orchestra back there behind the Beatles.", and this clip of "HEY JUDE" was not PERFORMNED on Frost's TV show; rather, it was premiered and SHOWN on his program September 8, 1968. On September 4, Frost went out to TWICKENHAM FILM STUDIOS and was filmed introducing them in order "to fake the illusion that the Beatles were appearing exclusively on his TV program" - LIVE - from the LONDON WEEKEND TELEVISION studios where Frost actually did tape his TV series "Frost On Sunday". The orchestra (which does NOT play "LIVE" in this clip) was visible on-set in order to fool the "Musician's Union into believing that no miming had been perpetrated." Other than one of Paul's two lead vocals being "LIVE" (with this also being the same "LIVE" vocal heard throughout the entirety of the long "na.na.na.na." refrain and fadeout." ALL of the other vocals, guitars, bass guitar, drums and orchestra are from the studio recording released as a 45 single record on August 26, 1968 in the U.S. and August 30, 1968 in the U.K.

[@genebaughbba]

@@meyerhave if that was not David Frost's orchestra then who would that be are those imposters pretending to be his orchestra? What difference does it make?

[@meyerhave]

​@@genebaughbba:"if that was not David Frost's orchestra then who would that be... " It is a 36-piece orchestra that was assembled and hired exclusively, and to be seen in, for the filming of the "HEY JUDE" promotional film that The Beatles produced and filmed at Twickenham Film Studios on Wednesday September 4, 1968. Why is that so hard to comprehend? It's quite the standard practice so common throughout the music business world. The orchestra (which does NOT play "LIVE" in this clip) was ALSO VISIBLE on-set AT TWICKENHAM in order to fool the... "Musician's Union into believing that no miming had been perpetrated." WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 1968: "Twickenham Film Studios, St Margaret's,Twickenham: Needing to shoot promo clips for both sides of new single 'Hey Jude'/'Revolution' the Beatles came to Twickenham, arriving at 1.30 pm and working through the afternoon and evening in stage one, a set built over the previous three days. Michael Lindsay-Hogg was the director. Two finished clips were made for each of the two songs, all four being video-taped in colour. 'Hey Jude' was done first, with Paul sitting at an upright piano, John and George sitting on an adjacent podium playing guitars, and Ringo sitting at the drums up and behind them. The Beatles WERE ALSO AUGMENTED BY A 36-PIECE ORCHESTRA DECKED OUT IN WHITE TUXEDOS and, for the extended refrain, by 300 extras, from teenager to pensioner, recruited after 20 students had distributed leaflets in the area, and Mal Evans had invited along fans congregated outside EMI Studios during a recent recording session." "At least three takes of 'Hey Jude' were taped, THE MOST REGULARLY SEEN CLIP being an edit of two of these, the first half from take one, the last half from take three. The camera and action differences between them were minor, but definite." "The world premiere of 'Hey Jude' in visual form occurred during the sixth edition of the LONDON WEEKEND TELEVISION series "Frost On Sunday" on 8 September (9.00 -10.00pm). To FAKE THE ILLUSION that the Beatles WERE APPEARING EXCLUSIVELY on his programme, live in the LWT studio, David Frost came to Twickenham this afternoon and was TAPED ON THE 'Hey Jude' SET introducing the Beatles. First they scooted through a version of Frost's long-established theme music (composed by George Martin and titled 'By George! It's The David Frost Theme') and then Frost spoke into the camera, as only he can, saying 'Magnificent! A perfect rendition! Ladies and Gentleman, there you see the greatest tea-room orchestra in the world. It's my pleasure to introduce now, in their first live appearance for goodness knows how long in front of an audience, the Beatles.' (There was, of course, no audience.) At this point, the Beatles dropped into a shocking parody of Elvis Presley's 'It's Now Or Never' but viewers of Frost On Sunday did not see this: they saw instead a seamless edit into 'Hey Jude'. " - Mark Lewisohn 1992 And as to being the orchestra seen in the actual & official "Hey Jude" promotional film, it had ABSOLUTELY NO CONNECTION to David Frost, his TV program, and most certainly NOT as - your words - "his orchestra" on said program, "FROST ON SUNDAY", which, once again, was filmed from the LONDON WEEKEND TELEVISION studios, which is where Frost actually did tape his TV series "Frost On Sunday". - NOT at Twickenham Film Studios. That orchestra had about as much of a connection to David Frost as it did to Tom and Dick Smothers (on whose show, "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour", the U.S. premiere of "Hey Jude" was shown on Sunday October 6, 1968.), which is ZILCH!

[@stephanieo2509]

People always say that it's "about" Julian. He was just the initial inspiration--just the Hey, Jules--take a sad song and make it better first verse. But the lyrics are not at all about a little boy.

[@yournamehere6002]

John and Paul were watching SNL in 1976 when Lorne Michaels, the shows producer, made an offer on live TV for a Beatles reunion. They almost went down to the studio and did it, but didn't. So as of 1976, they'd reconciled.

[@fayesouthall6604]

Cos they were high apparently.

[@thaisbuvalovas7523]

Paul and John were brothers. Twins, actually. This is what their love is all about.

[@KenHunter-lt8wm]

Delighted to see you finally get to this, as it's one of their best songs and the performance on the David Frost show is really special. (incidentally, the brief snippet they play at the start is the theme tune from the TV show ). Only out as a single (with Revolution on the B-side!). Not on album until much later.

[@genegarrett3372]

FACTS about this video. The Hey Jude / Revolution Promo films were recorded at Twickenham Film Studios on Sept 4th. They had prerecorded backing tracks of Hey Jude and Revolution to sing to as Musician Union rules forbade miming, and this was a way to get around that. They had a 36-piece orchestra and 300 extras who were recruited by 20 students who handed out leaflets. They did three takes of Hey Jude and the film version was an edit of takes 1 and 3. David Frost was at Twickenham to provide the introductions. BTW the Davis Frost instrumental TV theme they played was written by George Martin. And the other song snippet they goofily played was Elvis's Its Now Or Never. Hope this helps.

[@dalemcmillan7231]

Biggest record of the year 1968. 9 weeks at #1 ❤

[@oldperson989]

Thousands of England fans were singing the chorus in Germany tonight when Jude Bellingham scored the winning goal against Serbia

[@redtim3690]

The song at the beginning is the Beatles covering the theme music to the show they were on (Frost on Sunday). The greatest band of all time. ❤❤❤

[@reneestewart9425]

All that talent a rock 'n' roll star from the age of 20. And if that's not enough to respect a man for. A devoted husband, father and overall a family man first.

[@genegarrett3372]

At just over 7 minutes the track was technically too long for a 45 single and besides George Martin told them radio wouldn't play it as radio songs were usually 3 minutes. "They'll play it if it's us," replied John. "But it's still too long to put on a 45," George Martin pointed out. "Well, you figure it out," John said. So,. the mastering engineers found out that if they recorded some section at regular volume and others at lower volume, they could cram it all onto a 45 single and that's how it came out. And Radio did play it as this song was number one for 9 weeks.

[@nonrepublicrat]

Then what happened next.?? We want to hear more.

[@fineasfogg1461]

Oh, I never knew the technical side of this. But absolutely, I remember hearing it over and over on the radio and I loved it. I still love it.❤

[@leannmiller7153]

I still have the the 45❤️